Letter from the Publisher

In the wake of the tragic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Port of Virginia stepped up to offer its support and immediately began taking on any cargo needing to be redirected our way.

Apparently caused by a power outage aboard the container ship that collided with the Key Bridge, the accident shut down the Port of Baltimore entirely for more than a week. As of early April, Baltimore was opening temporary shipping lanes for smaller barges and tugboats, but it may take until at least late May before shipping there is restored to its usual levels and Baltimore can handle larger container ships again. In the meantime, it has added stress on the East Coast supply chain.

The accident highlights the critical importance of port access to our economy, but it’s also a testament to Virginia’s ongoing efforts in making the Hampton Roads maritime ports wider, deeper and safer that the Port of Virginia is able to absorb the extra container capacity without strain.

That capability is the result of significant investments. Wider and deeper channels come at a cost; it is the oceangoing equivalent of taking a well-worn path and converting it to a superhighway.

In March, the port finished widening Thimble Shoal Channel West, providing the berth needed for the biggest container ships to move two ways simultaneously. Meanwhile, a dredging project scheduled for completion in 2025 will give the Port of Virginia the East Coast’s deepest and widest harbor, allowing the largest modern container ships to make Virginia a fully loaded first port of call. And what’s more, the Virginia Department of Transportation is working to finish its $3.9 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion project by early 2027, alleviating regional traffic congestion and continuing to ensure that container ships calling on the port are free of overhead draft restrictions.

All of this results in a huge competitive advantage for the commonwealth’s ports system, which ranks among the top ports of entry and egress for East Coast imports and exports.

Virginia’s maritime industry is vibrant and innovative. Offshore wind turbines and the accompanying supply chain necessary to construct and supply them are also developing opportunities. That’s not to say that all these prospects don’t come with obstacles such as global supply chain disruptions, sea-level rise, and labor shortages. These factors all present challenges that Virginia’s maritime, logistics, economic development and educational institutions are working collectively to address.

Our hope is that the 2024 Virginia Maritime Guide will provide you with a wealth of information on each of these investments, opportunities, challenges and more. To compile this guide, we worked closely with the Virginia Maritime Association and the Port of Virginia. We thank them for their assistance and look forward to the maritime industry’s ongoing success in the commonwealth.

Bernie Niemeier

President & Publisher

Virginia Business